We are not satisfied with real life; we want to live some imaginary life in the eyes of other people and to seem different from what we actually are.

I rather live as if God exists to find out that He doesn't than live as if he doesn't exist to find out He does.

Words differently arranged have a different meaning, and meanings differently arranged have different effects.

[Christianity] endeavors equally to establish these two things: that God has set up in the Church visible signs to make himself known to those who should seek him sincerely, and that he has nevertheless so disguised them that he will only be perceived by those who seek him with all their heart.

Faith is different from proof; the latter is human, the former is a Gift from God.

The present letter is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter.

We are so presumptuous that we wish to be known to all the world, even to those who come after us; and we are so vain that the esteem of five or six persons immediately around us is enough to amuse and satisfy us.